ACADEMY VERDICT: YOUNG BREWERS VS BRADFORD CITY

PROFESSIONAL Development Phase Lead Coach Sam Rose gave an honest assessment after the Young Brewers fell to a 3-1 loss at home to Bradford City on Friday.

Two first-half strikes saw the Young Brewers end the half two goals down leaving the side facing an uphill battle to get anything from the game.

“In the first half, I think they’ve scored two really top quality goals which Is hard to legislate for. They were good finishes and it puts us two goals behind at the break, but we need to be better with the ball and capitalise on the chances we’re creating.”

Last week, the Young Brewers side found it difficult to create chances as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield. Rose was however impressed by the way the team improved in this area against Bradford.

“We were really disappointed about how we were in and around the final third at Chesterfield. We did a fair bit of work on it in the week and as we showed today we did create more chances but we just didn’t manage to put them away.”

Rueben Lal captained the Young Brewers on Friday. The defender spoke honestly after Albion conceded three goals.

“I thought as a team we did play well at times. In front of goal we have to be more composed and finish our chances. As a team we have improved in terms of getting in front of goal and getting shots off. Defensively we were slack, we let them cut-inside and we didn’t close them down quick enough and need to defend as a team better. But that’s something to work on for next time.”

Looking ahead to the future, Lal pinpointed a couple of areas the side can work on ahead of next Saturday’s game against Fleetwood.

“We need to have better shape behind the ball. When we press as a team we work well and when we all defend as a unit we work well but I think today we didn’t show it and have to improve on it in training.”